The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-28
SHERIDAN AND ENDICOTT.
A Peculiar Claim That Will Let in Light on
Their Differences.

A Peculiar Claim That VIII Let in Light on
Their Differences.
New York Herald.
Col Charles w. Moulton. the lawyer, a
brother-in-law of Senator Sherman, and high
officer in the late war, has filed peculiar
claim at Washington, which is to test the
boundary line of authority between the Secre
tary of War and the commanding general of the
army
Very likely this claim will involve an extra
ordinary war between the forces political and
military. The growing feud between General
Sheridan and Secretary Endcott will doubtless
Be thoroughly aired in the next few days.
and perhaps involve all the feuds between
past Secretaries of War and the generals in
command which have been bitter and uncom-
promising.
Colonel Moulton was seen in his Office in this
city yesterday. Although his duties during the
war were ever in the nature of business, he rose
to a very high rank. This claim he said, lis
for salary due over twenty-five years The sum
of money is not large. but the principle involved
is great, and the time has arrived to settle
it. In October, 1864, 1 was captain and
quartermaster in the army. disbursing about
&C. 900, 900 per month. Mr.. Stanton Secre-
tary OF War, and Charles A. Dana was assistant.
Pressure was brought to bear from high quarters
to use my Office for political purposes.
Il was discussing the matter Win Nlr. Stanton
one day. and as he saw NJ help for me, and as
had vouchers for every penny disbursed by me.
l wrote my resignation in his presence, and by
his order acting Inspector General Hardy issued
a special order of acceptance. A man was Sc
cured in Boston for my place who was expected
to give more active support to the party in power
by using the screws of the Office This man
succeeded in getting the quartermasters
Office into a scandal. and was sent for with the
urgent request that would resume my old posi-
tion l replied that / was out of the army and
proposed to stay out. On that Mr. Stanton is
sued a special order revoking the special order
which had accepted my resignation, and then or
dered me to resume my post. l was obliged to
obey, and resumed the quartermaster's office
from the date of the second special order, Feb.
8, 1865. l take the ground that if the Secretary
of War had the right to issue this second order l
was never legally out of the army and entitled to
the interim salary. amounting TO about $1,000
The Secretary had the undoubted right to ac
cept my resignation, but was he empowered. aft
lapse of time. to revoke his acceptance?
This question involves the boundary line of
power, and Congress must settle it"
1t is held by Yves. Pointers that the Secretary
of War is not An army officer. They accord to
him the undoubted right to equip and clotne the
army and regulate its supplies. Beyond that
| they claim his power is nil because for instance,
| he cannot be tried by court martial, does not
| come under the regulations of the army and has
duties essentially political. But Secretaries OF
| War have exercised the right to issue orders
direct to army officers and dictate military move
ments. ETC. If they signed their orders by or
der of the President no trouble would arise, but
their orders are signed sBy order of the Secre-
tary of War"
| Secretary Endicott at present holds strained
relations with General Sheridan. The feeling
| existing has found many outlets of late. A gen.
| tleman of this city has some evidence on this
| poiut. He wrote to the Secretary of War for a
copy of General Sheridan's report of his trip
through the Rocky mountains in 1882 with Presi
dent Arthur. The Secretary of Var replied that
| the report had never been published, and the
Secretarys language such as to imply that
it was not likely to be- AS the gentleman was
| writing some "reminiscences of President Arthur
| he wrote again, stating the fact and asking &c
| borrow the report. Offering bond. or to have &C
| cess to it in Washington
To that letter he received curt reply ahso-
lutely declining to let the report be seen. Not
long after he was told pretty directly from the
| War Department that the Secretary had no vau
dark enough to bury Sherdan's reports in.
1t is now we'll known that the coterie of sur
viving Union generals, intrenched as they are il
powerful friendships and political and social al
liances have seized the opportunity offered BY
| Colonel Moultons claim to carry the question o
the boundary line of power into Congress and
have it settled to who rms the army. in sc
doing some lively but ancient history will bt
raked up. and Mr. Charles A. Dana among 9th
ers will have a chance to explain his bitter hos
tity to the army since his association with Sec
| rotary Stanton.